Can Magnolia finally end its title drought?
The Hotshots certainly hope so as they shoot for the championship when they look to take out Alaska in the resumption of their best-of-seven championship showdown in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
Leading 3-2 and only a game away from the title, Magnolia looks to end it in Game 6, even as the Aces aim on forcing a rubber match in their 7 p.m. encounter at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City today.
The reason why the Hotshots have taken charge is Best Player of the Conference Paul Lee.
In an intense Game 5 battle with the series lead on the line, Lee knocked down the game-winning jumper with under a second left to lift Magnolia to a pulsating 79-78 squeaker over the Aces.
Now, the Hotshots need only one more to win their first title since 2014.
“This moment is what the Finals are all about. We have the lead now and we’re expecting Game 6 to be as tough as the last one,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero. “It’s really all about heart now. I hope we can finish it.”
Despite being down, Alaska does not certainly feel that it is already out.
“Game 7? We’ll certainly try to do that,” said Aces coach Alex Compton.
Should Alaska win, Game 7 will be scheduled this Friday.
Meanwhile, Blackwater is sending Bobby Ray Parks, the overall no. 2 pick in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft, to Meralco in a three-team deal with TNT, with Baser Amer bound for the KaTropa, and Jericho Cruz and newly acquired TNT guard Brian Heruela heading to the Elite.